Critical Issues Forum 

2008-2009

 

BENCHMARK III

 

Cathedral City High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Participants:

Joanne Esteban

Emily Willoughby

 

Faculty Advisor:

Kimberly Robinson

 

Table of Contents

 

Benchmark III

        

The History of South Africa and Somalia and their positions on a nuclear worldÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ... 4 

 

 

Works CitedÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ.................................................... 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benchmark III

The continent of Africa is not normally associated with the idea of nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation.  However, because of South AfricaÕs previous development of nuclear weapons and recent signing of AfricaÕs nuclear free zone treaty, or the Pelindaba treaty (CIA Factbook), the continent must be considered as an example of the worldÕs problem with nuclear weapons.  In addition, SomaliaÕs recent troubles with piracy and its position as a non-state actor can lead the public to believe that Africa should be taken into consideration with regards to nuclear proliferation.

           

C:\Users\owner\Pictures\africa_pol98.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/st_charlesregent/images/africa_pol98.jpg

 

In Somalia, several terrorist groups are rising up, and are currently invading national and global news. There is no stable government which exists in that state today.  It harbors a transitional, parliamentary federal government.  There is no national legal system, no Somalia embassy in the US, and the United StatesÕ embassy to Somalia exists in Kenya.  Somalia does not even have a national-level armed force to quell the terrorist groups, which include: al-Qaeda and local jihadists.  In America, this news is almost a daily occurrence, with the pirates taking over ships which cross through the Red Sea and around the horn of Africa, ships that harbor no threat to that country, even ships carrying supplies to aid African countries in need.  It is clear that the warlords are the ones in charge, and that the transitional government put in place has little to no influence on what is going on in the country. 

Out of a population of over 9 million people, only about 4 million cover the labor force and the unemployment rate not even available, itÕs easy to believe that the warlords have the ability to manipulate the entire population.  The Somali people are defenseless due to their lack of centralized government and military.  They are confined in a country about the size of Texas, with only about 100,000 internet users and an estimated 135,000 television sets.  There are only 67 airports in the country, and only 7 of them have paved runways (CIA factbook). 

The Somalis lack access to resources needed to function in a technologically advanced world, and in the years to come, the growth of piracy may foreshadow future conflicts in which the failed state of Somalia. The world might witness Somali pirates becoming desperate, willing to do anything to get their hands on whatever it is they want.  Today, itÕs money.  Tomorrow, it could be nuclear weapons or radioactive material.

  Although Somalia did not sign the African nuclear free zone treaty, the Pelindaba treaty, because fifty African states signed the treaty and twenty eight were needed, they are bound by it.  The Somalis have not yet entered any nuclear treaties, or joined the African nuclear free zone treaty, the Pelindaba treaty.  This leaves the warlords of Somalia to gain access to nuclear material or weapons any time they wish.  The warlords are not akin to governments; they are motivated by money and by power, not for the greater good of their people or following international laws.  Obtaining access to nuclear weapons would be a tremendous leap for them, and give them both money, power, and leverage in the international community.  Power and leverage, through the mere fact that they actually have weapons of mass destruction.  Money, because to trade and sell nuclear weapons would be quite profitable.  If the Somalis pirates wanted, they could possibly aim to obtain dirty bombs. 

One of their main natural resources is uranium which could be extracted and sold on the black market to the highest bidder.  For example, North Korea or Iran.  But Somalia would not be akin to these countries that are actually developing weapons, but it would be a transit point for nuclear weapons to go through.

In South AfricaÕs side, they obtained nuclear power and therefore slight access to weaponry early on in the nuclear arms race.  In the early 90Õs the threat of communist expansion disappeared.  The white minority government was defeated and there was a transition of power to the ANC dominated majority government. It was for these reasons that SA opted to voluntarily dismantle their nuclear weapons.  In order to show that they were going to fully comply with the procedures in the NPT they invited the IAEA in to inspect their facilities, anytime, anywhere.  In order to demonstrate their compliance they destroyed the mechanical components of the weapons and the radioactive material is held under the auspices of the African Union.  SA shows its dedication to peaceful relations with other countries and the international community through its compliance with the NPT and the Pelindaba Treaties.

Through these facts, it can be seen that the countries of South Africa and Somalia can represent countries in the various continents throughout the world.  Although shaded from the nuclear debates, it can also be seen that countries such as Somalia should be monitored closely with regards to nuclear proliferation, in order to prevent occurances such as that of North Korea, and so forth.  Just as well, the country of South Africa should be included in the list of countries that the world should embody with regards to ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Africa. Digital image. Geocities.com. 17 May 2009 <http://www.geocities.com/st_charlesregent/images/africa_pol98.jpg>.

 

"CNS - Central Asian States Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ) Despite U.S. Opposition - September 8, 2006 - CNS Research Story." James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). 17 May 2009 <http://cns.miis.edu/stories/060905.htm>.

 

Consequences of the Atomic Bomb.17 May 2009 <http://www.atomicarchive.com/Treaties/Treaty20.shtml>.

 

Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of South Africa. "African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty (ANWFZ) (Treaty of Pelindaba)." International Relations & Cooperation. 13 Feb. 2004. International Relations & Cooperations Republic of South Africa. 17 May 2009 <http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/Multilateral/africa/treaties/anwfz.htm>.

 

"Nuclear Files: Library: Treaties: Nuclear Weapons Free Zones." Nuclear Files - From nuclear proliferation to nuclear testing, from Hiroshima to North Korea, Nuclear Files offers the A to Z on nuclear issues. 17 May 2009 <http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/library/treaties/nuclear-free-zones/trty_nuclear-free-zone-index.htm>.

 

Nuclear Threat Initiative: Home Page. 17 May 2009 http://www.nti.org/e_research/official_docs/inventory/pdfs/anwfz.pdf>.

 

Office of the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters.

29 Mar. 2009 <http://www.acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm>.

Smith, Hon Nick. Global Security Institute. 17 May 2009 <http://www.gsinstitute.org/pnnd/issues/Nuclearweaponsfreezones.htm>.

 

"Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (1993) | Nuclear Arms Control Treaties | atomicarchive.com." Atomicarchive.com: Exploring the History, Science, and

 

Ritter, Andre. "Personal Views on South Africa's nuclear stance by a South African resident." Personal interview. 28 Mar. 2009.

 

"Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (2002) | Nuclear Arms Control Treaties | atomicarchive.com." Atomicarchive.com: Exploring the History, Science, and Consequences of the Atomic Bomb. 17 May 2009 <http://www.atomicarchive.com/Treaties/Treaty21.shtml>.

 

"The World Factbook Somalia." 14 May 2009. 17 May 2009 <http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/so.html>.

 

 

UN General Assembly. "Pelindaba Text of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty." IAEA. 17 May 2009 <http://http://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/GC/GC40/Documents/pelindab.html>.

 

  U.S. Department of State. 17 May 2009 <http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/factsheets/wnd/nuclear/ctbt/ctbtsigs.html>.